America loves sports and the analogy has been often made that in the spirit of bipartisanship in the healthcare debate, opposing camps need to meet somewhere between the 40-yard-lines. If we were to set Democrats and Republicans on opposite goal lines, let's see where the referees currently have the ball marked on the field.
The Democrats started at their goal line with a Single-Payer Plan that was immediately considered a "nonstarter" and was dismissed as politically impractical. That moves the Democrats to their own 30-yard-line. The conservatives are still dug in at their own goal line and are throwing the red flag to challenge a call before the kickoff. They seem to be claiming that the referees have much nicer uniforms than the players and that from their view at the goal line, the painted grass at midfield looks too much like a swastika.
The next play is a running play and OHHHHHHHH, another player down for the Democrats. It seems there won't be any negotiations to barter with Big Pharma for better drug prices. They can continue to charge whatever they want and there won't be any silly talk about death with dignity or even life with dignity for that matter. Place the ball at the 50-yard-line for the Democrats. Hold on, there seems to be a disturbance on the field. The Republicans are being called for interference at the Townhall Meetings but since they are currently on their own goal line, penalizing them half the distance to the goal is a futile and meaningless gesture.
In the background, I can hear the media over the Public Address system. Boy, it sure is loud. Let's tune in and hear what they are saying:
"Mrs. Graves, please report to the Death Panel, your euthanasia is waiting. Mrs. Graves, please report to the Death Panel."
"Senor Pobrecasa, Senor Pobrecasa, your fifty free lifetime season tickets bought for you and your extended family by someone else are available at the front of the line. Calling Senor Pobrecasa.”
Back to the action. Third down. It looks like a quarterback Public Option but the Public Option is stacked up behind the line of scrimmage. Somebody really missed their blocking assignments on that one. Clearly the Democrats have given up the passing attack and that moves the ball to the Republican 20-yard-line. Republicans meanwhile still appear to be huddled up. They don't seem to be in any hurry and are penalized for taking too much time and backed up half the distance to their own goal. Again, the penalty doesn't hurt them too much but he fans are getting restless and some have started heading for the exits recognizing that it doesn't matter who wins anymore.
Fourth down. Democrats try to surprise everyone, including this reporter, by co-opting for the Hail Mary pass but Republicans are stealing the signals from Head Coach Obama and it is easily broken up by the defenders.
Status quo wins! Status quo wins!
Hey, where did all the fans go?